A favourite holiday destination for Finns for decades, the island of Crete never ceases to surprise with its wide range of cultural, sightseeing and activities. Covering more than 8,300 square kilometres, Greece’s largest island has an incredible amount to experience and see. From hikers and botanists who love the great outdoors to lovers of good food and drink, Crete has something for everyone.
Crete has a multi-stage history from the cradle of Minoan culture to the Eastern Roman Empire. The Venetians also played a major role in the development of Crete’s infrastructure, as under their rule Crete became one of the most important trading centres in the Venetian Empire. The Ottoman period and the Second World War are also reflected in the streetscape through buildings and monuments.
As a beach holiday destination, Crete caters for families with children as well as tourists looking for exotic gems. Prevel’s palm forest, one of the largest in Europe, brings a slice of the Caribbean to the Mediterranean seaside. For those looking for an experience, Crete is also home to the turquoise lagoon of Balos and the pink-pebbled beach of Elafonis. A cruise day to the pirate island of Gramvousa is ideal for travellers of all ages, from keen snorkellers to sun worshippers.
There are places on the globe that are great all year round. Greece’s largest island, Crete, is one of the places where you’ll want to stay for a long time. It has been well said that this is the jewel of Greece. While most tourists associate this resort primarily with summer beach holidays, locals often cite mid-autumn or spring as the best time to visit the island. This is the period when it is still quite warm, but there are not so many tourists. Not to mention that in Crete you can sit outside in the heat when the cold winter months get you home.
Today, more and more people often have ideas about where to rest – for at least a week or two, even a couple of months. Mostly, of course, people think primarily of exotic places 10,000 kilometres from home. What about those who don’t want to or can’t climb that far from Europe? Perhaps the ideal place for them is the island of Crete.
Temperatures do not usually drop below +10°C even in winter, while sub-zero temperatures are usually nonsense for this region. The island has two climate zones – Mediterranean (main part) and North African (southern coast). During the summer months, the average temperature in Crete ranges from +20 to +30°C, while in winter the average temperature is sometimes +16°C.
The range of services and convenient accessibility are key words for Crete’s popularity. Public transport takes tourists to both towns and beach resorts at regular intervals. Taxi fares are affordable by Finnish standards and Greek food is to the taste of Finnish tourists. The climate is warm from spring to autumn and rainy days are not often surprising in high season.
For horticulturists, Crete is an above-ground paradise. The island is divided east-west by a two-kilometre mountain range, which divides it into a lush north and a drier south. In addition, the north-south mountain range is criss-crossed by hundreds of gorges, which over the millennia have created their own special microclimates. These microclimates have enabled many plant and animal species to survive natural disasters such as the last ice age up to the present day. In Crete alone, there are close to 200 indigenous plant species.
Crete also offers excellent hiking and trekking terrain. One of the most popular routes is the 16 km long Samaria Gorge in the Lefka Ori mountains. The 11-kilometre hike in the Imbrokes Gorge is also a favourite with hikers. For a lighter hike, there is the ruins of an Ottoman-era defensive fortress on the Askifou plain.
FRANGOKASTELLO. The small village of Frangokastello, on the south coast of Crete, has lovely little tavernas, good quiet beaches and the famous 13th century fortress of Frangokastello. Frangokastello on the Libyan Sea is 55 km from Chania and 80 km from Rethymnon. The neighbouring village of Chóra Sfakion is also worth a stop en route.
ELAFONISI BEACH. One of Crete’s most famous beaches is the bright pink Elafonisi. The beach can be reached by rental car, taxi or bus from the centre of Hania.
VAI BEACH. Vai Beach, Crete’s largest palm forest, is a small piece of the Caribbean on the shores of the Mediterranean. There are guided day trips to the area in English.
PREVELIN PALM FOREST. The Caribbean atmosphere is also available closer to the towns of Hania and Rethymnon. A day trip to Preveli can be spent lounging on the beach and exploring Preveli’s impressive Orthodox monastery.
SEITAN LIMANI BEACH. A 20 km drive from Chania, on the Akrotiri peninsula, lies a true sun worshipper’s paradise, Seitan Limani. Access to the beach is via a steep path, so make sure you bring good shoes.
KNONNOS PALACE. Minoan culture flourished in Crete during the Bronze Age, from around 3100-1100 BC. In the winding palace of Knossos, you can learn about pre-Hellenic architecture and the lives of the people of the time.
SAMARIAN ROTKO. One of the longest gorges in Europe, the Samaria Gorge is a top hiking destination for tourists. The 16-kilometre trekking tours are mainly organised in English. Please ask your guide if there are any Finnish-language tours during your holiday.
ARKADI MON ASTERY 25 km from the town of Rethymno is the Orthodox monastery of Arkadi. Recognised by Unesco as a European Monument of Freedom, Arkadi Monastery is today home to a community of seven monks who look after the area.
THE OLD TOWN OF HANIA. The Venetian harbour area, Ottoman buildings and fascinating cobbled alleys invite the traveller to breathe in centuries-old architecture. Around the old town of Hania, there are lovely boutiques, taverns and museums to keep you busy for several days.
BALOS. Shimmering in shades of turquoise, the Balos lagoon is a tourist favourite. A cruise to Balos, which also stops at the pirate island of Gramvousa, is a good way to get there.
FORTÉTZA-FIXING. The main landmark of Rethymnon is the Fortétza fortress, built by the Venetians. The huge structure has historically served as the centre of Turkish administration, among other things. On a trip to the fortress, it is also worth visiting the Archaeological Museum of Rethymnon.
SPINALOGUE. The island of Spinalónga, which used to be a leper colony, is familiar to many from Victoria Hislop’s book The Island. During the summer, boats carrying tourists from the villages of Eloúnta and Plaka leave from the island every hour.
THE CEMETERY OF GERMAN SOLDIERS. In the village of Maleme, less than 20 kilometres from the centre of Hania, lies a cemetery of German soldiers from the Second World War. 4,500 soldiers are buried in the area, which is run by a German organisation. The cemetery is located on a spectacular hill and is free of charge.
ALLIED CEMETERY. A cemetery for Allied soldiers is located in Soudan Bay, near the airport of Hania. The cemetery is on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, in a peaceful and easily accessible location. Free access.
Crete is famous for its beaches. You can find well-equipped places with sun loungers, changing rooms and cafés, or deserted corners of paradise far from the cities. The beaches of Crete give an amazing variety of impressions: sandy and pebbly, crowded and deserted, open to all winds and quiet in small bays, white, golden, light brown and even black sand, long and small, surrounded by rocks , hidden in gorges, palm groves.
The total length of Crete’s coastline is just over 1000 km, which can only please lovers of traditional relaxation under the sun umbrellas. The long coastline is home to a wide variety of bays and coves with sandy and cobbled beaches. So there are beaches that are best for families with children, beaches where you go for fun and where there is an atmosphere of peace. It should be noted that all the pebble and sandy beaches in Crete and throughout Greece are municipally owned, so admission is free. It is true that you have to pay for the use of sun loungers and umbrellas.
Crete is washed by three seas – the Aegean to the north, the Mediterranean to the south (Crete is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus and Corsica) and the Ionian Sea. The sea in the west. On the map, the desired point is Balos Bay and the beach of the same name. This is the famous confluence of the three seas – Ionian, Aegean and Libyan. However, this is one of the most difficult beaches in Crete. It can be reached either by car (but this is a rather difficult task as there is no normal road) or as part of an organised excursion to the island of Gramvousa from the port of Kissamos. But it’s worth it to see the huge number of shades of blue and the purity of the water on this beach. Just add to this picture the white sands and the small bay where kids can splash around – and you’ll fall in love with this place forever.
The second most visited beach is Elafonis beach with pink sand. The shades of water there are also really stunning – the seawater in the Elafonis lagoon has a pale turquoise tint with a slight pink tinge and changes colour throughout the day. But tourists appreciate this beach mainly for the unusual colour of the sand – it is often pink when surfing. So expand your collection with photos of this place, which are the most colourful, especially at sunset, when the shells flicker in the rays of the setting sun.
Vai Beach is considered a paradise, and is set in palm groves. This is one of the few beaches in Crete where palm trees grow. The landscape is quite tropical and therefore unusual. Without a doubt, it is very picturesque. When you get to the white sandy Vai beach, it looks like you are somewhere in the Caribbean islands.
If you’re holidaying in the Hania area, the beaches with the finest sand and the most tranquillity in terms of visitor numbers are located between the town of Hania and the resort of Agia Marina. The small beaches of Agioi Apostoloi, such as Paralia Agii Apostoloi, Iguana Beach and Hrisi Akti are well worth a visit and are easily accessible by local buses. There are lovely little beach bars in the area, where you can buy, among other things, Greek black iced coffee, freddo espresso, sweetened to your taste. A great choice for a scorching hot day at the beach!
The town of Rethymnon is bordered by a single 12-kilometre-long beach, with the best facilities at the western end of the beach. The sand in the area is fine and the water is, for the most part, gradually deepening. With northerly winds, deeper water can develop currents, which are worth watching out for when going for longer swims.
If you are staying in Hersonissos, the best beach, the long and slowly deepening Stalis, is about 5 km from the resort. Hersonissos is a great full-service destination for golf and relaxation. The village is sparsely populated and is only 25 km from the capital of Crete, Heraklion.
Many of the more remote beaches can be reached from the resorts by public transport, but some require a hire car. Please note that rental car insurance does not cover all damage to cars on gravel roads.
Almost all of Crete’s attractions can be reached by rental car, taxi or public transport. If car hire is not an option, there are also guided bus tours around Crete for every day of your holiday. The buses take you to Knossos Palace, to the pink beach of Elafonis, or on hikes along the bottom of the gorges.
Around large cities, the bus is an affordable and convenient way to get around. In Chania, the bus stations for local and urban transport are located close to each other on Kidonias Street. In Rethymnon, the bus station is located on the beach, a short walk west of the Fortétza fortress. Iraklion has two bus stations. Buses to Hania and Rethymnon leave from Leof. Ikarou Street, near the port of Iraklion.
Below are some examples of taxi prices. Prices vary depending on the time of day. Not all taxis have taximeters, so make sure you agree the price of your future journey when you leave.
Old Town of Hania – Hania Airport approx. 25 €
Old Town of Hania – Kato Daratso approx. 10 €
Old Town of Hania – Platanias approx. 17 €
All of Crete’s major towns have a wide range of Greek and international clothing shops, as well as smaller boutiques and markets. For shopping and atmosphere, head to the travelling markets, which offer not only handicrafts but also fresh vegetables, dried herbs, local cheeses and olives.
Handicrafts range from leather and linen products to lace and natural sponges. Souvenir shops sell postcards, magnets and beachwear for your holiday.
Jumbo, the biggest department store, especially popular with families with children, is an affordable and versatile shopping destination. Located 4 km from the old town of Hania, Jumbo is easily accessible by local bus from the coastal resort villages.
If you want to bring home some Greek flavours, we recommend buying a bottle of Alepon Pine-flavoured retsína white wine. The wine goes well with graviera cheese, which makes a lovely pan-fried saganaki at home. The Cretans are particularly proud of their double-distilled ponti, tsikudia. The velvety-soft tsikudia can be served with honey-coated apple slices or orange cake, portokalopita.
Many people miss the taste of Greek salads after a holiday. The secret to salads is quality cold-pressed olive oil combined with tart apple cider vinegar. The salads also use spice mixes, which you can buy in shops and markets, for example. Good apple cider vinegars are available in all Cretan grocery stores. Finding good apple cider vinegar in Finland is a challenge.
Well, what’s a summer holiday in Crete without at least one noisy party and dancing until dawn? Nightlife is concentrated in the town centre and on the promenade. You’ll also find many nightclubs in the nearby resorts of Hersonissos and Malia. In the latter, the nightlife is a little softer and more suitable for older tourists.
In Crete’s nightlife you will meet both locals, holidaymakers and university students studying in Crete, especially towards the end of the season. The main Cretan student towns of Heraklion and Chania offer youthful clubs and nightlife for those in search of a night out.
When the sun goes down, people gather in cafes serving ouzo and tavernas (usually located on the beach or facing the sea) to drink tsikoudia (a traditional local drink) and sample special snacks. The fun goes on until dawn in cabarets, discos, clubs, bars, places where “Bouzouki” or “Cretan lyre” is played. The discos and many other places are open until dawn, and most of them are free of charge.
The tavernas and pubs in Crete are endless. There are many options to choose from in all the holiday villages. However, we recommend heading further away from the beaches towards the local settlements. In the islanders’ small haunts, you can enjoy a real thundering pub atmosphere, live music and lower prices.
For example, from the resort village of Platanias there are small roads leading up to the mountains. There is an upper village, Pano Platanias, inhabited by people who work in the area. It is here, among other places, that you should go for a more authentic dining experience. The resort village of Platanias itself has a number of sports and cocktail bars and youthful nightclubs, not forgetting karaoke bars.
Crete is a unique island, diverse, with a unique character, amazingly beautiful beaches, famous sights, the bright colours of the sea playing, a healing climate. Every year hundreds of thousands of tourists come here to touch ancient history, learn about local traditions and just spend a nice and carefree time on the beach. So where to stay? Heraklion, Lassithi, Rethymnon and Chania.
Chania
The city of Hania is located in the western part of Crete, next to the Lefka Ori mountain range on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The diverse mix of green urban and beach resorts makes Hania the most popular of Crete’s holiday destinations.
It has everything for a busy holiday: incredible scenery, old streets with architectural and natural attractions, a rich cultural life. Here you will find the White Mountains (Lefka Ori), 12 gorges and the largest canyon in Europe – Samaria. Primarily the pink sands of Elafonis attract many tourists every year.
The famous Venetian harbour and the old town of Hania offer plenty to see and do: from boutiques, churches and mosques to cafés, museums and winding cobbled streets. The architecture bears the imprint of the Venetians and Ottomans, but also a more modern neoclassical trend. In the old town, you can stop by the meze shops and sample ouzo or double-distilled tisquoi.
Residential areas and holiday villages have been built along the coastline that widens west of the town of Hania: Agioi Apostoloi 4.5 km, Kato Daratso 4.5 km, Stalos 8 km, Agia Marina 9.5 km, Platanias 11.5 km, Gerani 14 km, Maleme 17.5 km*. * The kilometres indicate the distance of the area from the centre of Hania.
Agioi Apostoloi and Kato Daratso are quiet areas, inhabited by both tourists and locals. The journey to the old town of Hania can be made along the beach, buses are frequent and taxis from the hotel to the town are inexpensive. Towards Agia Marina and Platania, services become more frequent. Platanias is the centre of the holiday villages of the Hania area, with a nightlife that attracts young and old alike.
Kalyves and Almyrida
The small fishing villages of Kalyves and Almyrida are located over 20 km east of the city of Hania. They are perfect for families with children and older people looking for a relaxing and peaceful holiday. You won’t find nightlife in these destinations, but you will find a stunning golden sandy beach and beautiful boutiques and tavernas.
Rethymnon
This is called the soul of the island because of its old and fascinating appearance: paved streets, ancient churches and mosques, tiled roofs. In addition to postcard views, tourists are attracted by mountain caves and caverns, valleys and beautiful beaches. These are good clean sandy beaches, 16 km long, with rocky, intimate coves and even sandy beaches with a flat bottom. The quiet and peaceful villages along the coast are ideal for solitude and family holidays with children.Settled since ancient times, Rethymnon combines peaceful family holidays, fascinating historical sights and endless coastline. Rethymnon is the third largest town in Crete and is therefore not overshadowed by other destinations in terms of services.
Rethymnon is also ideally located for nearby attractions. A short drive away is the family-friendly Patsos Gorge, where the birdsong mingles with the rippling water at the bottom of the gorge is mesmerising. The gorge has a restaurant and a small petting farm, which will delight the little ones in the family.
The most famous of Rethymnon’s attractions is undoubtedly the Renaissance Fortétza, built by the Ottomans and Venetians. One of the largest in Greece, the fortress conceals magnificent architecture and mysticism.
Heraklion
If you’re looking for the pulse of a big city and a warm sunshine holiday away from other Finnish tourists, we recommend a self-catering holiday to Iraklion.
The capital of Crete, Heraklion, is located halfway along the northern coast of the island, 5 kilometres from the ancient Palace of Knossos. In terms of infrastructure, Heraklion is the most developed and diverse of the Cretan cities. Life in the metropolis is youthful and rich in cultural offerings.
This is the most central and largest area of Crete, with a well-developed tourism infrastructure. The north coast of Crete has comfortable hotels, noisy resort centres and two water parks. Ancient Heraklion is a city with a port, an international airport (3 km east of the city), a variety of shops, souvenir shops, restaurants and discotheques. Such popular resorts as Malia, Stalida, Hersonissos, Gouves and Kokkini Hani are in the Heraklion area. Consider these places for your first holiday in Crete. They are located not so far from Heraklion International Airport, which rules out a long transfer.
Lasithi
Resorts located a little further away from the airports, such as Agios Nikolaos, Elounda in the Lasithi area, are no less popular with tourists.The prefecture of Lasithi is located in the eastern half of Crete. The car journey from Chania to Lasithi takes 4-5 hours, depending on traffic, while from Heraklion it takes 2 hours. When planning your timetable, remember that journeys are not always as smooth in Greece as they are in Finland. Sometimes you may have to wait a while for a flock of sheep to cross the road, for example.
However, the attractions of the luxurious Lasithi County are well worth the time spent travelling. The area is home to the exotic paradise beach of Vai Beach, which is home to the largest palm forest in Crete. Most say it was the site where the same Bounty advertisement was shot. Lasithi is full of historical sites and beautiful landscapes. For example, it is home to the most beautiful bay in all of Greece – Mirabello.
Lasith also features the legendary 1700 BC Minoan city of Gournia and the stalactite cave on Mount Dikti, where the titan Rhea is said to have secretly given birth to the god Zeus from her husband Cronos.
The varied landscape makes the area very attractive for recreational use. The high level of tourist services, the well-developed infrastructure and the many fashionable hotels make a holiday in Lasithi unbelievable.
Airlines: several different airlines fly from Finland to Crete. At Aventours, we fly to Crete with Enter Air. We always offer you the best price for air tickets to Crete.
Airports: hania airport, Iraklion airport, small Sitia airport
Distance to resorts from Hania Airport: From Hania airport: 20-30 minutes to destinations in the area and 1.5 hours to Rethymnon
Flight time: 4 hours
Language: greek
Time difference: 0
Population: around 630 000
Passport: Finnish citizens need a valid passport or chip card to travel to Greece
Currency: euro
Tipping: not included in restaurant prices. If you are satisfied with the service, you can tip 5-10% of the bill.
Electricity: in Greece (220V 50Hz, plugs and sockets are type C and F)
Air tax: €1.50 – €10 per room per night depending on the hotel classification. Hotel tax payable in cash on site
Tap water: usually clean and potable, but may have a mineral taste. We recommend drinking bottled water.
Get out of the market! Nothing beats the atmosphere of a Greek market. From fresh vegetables, cheeses and olives to fresh and dried wild herbs and oils. From bags, shoes and clothes to recycled textiles and goods. Ask your guide for the locations and times of the nearest markets.
If you’re staying in the Hania area, go on an adventure to the lush Therisson Gorge and the idyllic little village of Therisson at its end. The village, 10 kilometres from Hania, can be reached either by cycling along the bottom of the gorge, on The Little Fun Train or by car. We highly recommend sampling the boutique cheeses: graviera, tirokafter, anthotiro and mizithra.
Spend a day exploring military sites and monuments. In Maleme you can see World War II aircraft and visit the cemetery of German soldiers. You can learn more about the heartbreaking events that followed the Battle of Crete at the Etz Hayyim Synagogue in the old town of Hania.
Walk through picturesque natural landscapes and see Crete’s unique historical sites. Numerous changes in the island’s history left their mark on its architecture. Today, holidaymakers who have bought a last-minute package holiday to Crete can touch this heritage and experience the immensity of history. You should definitely take a trip to the island of Spinalnga. The most charming nature reserve is the Vai date grove. In the summer, the grove becomes a big Lato festival, which hosts the best Greek musicians and theatre actors.
Try water activities. Agios Nikolaos is a port city, so it has a rich maritime tradition. You can take a submarine or a simple boat. Those who want to explore the underwater world will also like this holiday, as you can see turtles and sea fish. Fans of luxury yachts will surely enjoy the possibility of taking a variety of cruises to Elounda, Kolokytha, Plaka. The island is also a great place for windsurfing and a kind of water-skiing safari.
Visit water parks. If you come to Crete with children, you shouldn’t limit yourself to swimming. For example, you can entertain your children in the four water parks on the island (this does not include the mini water parks in the hotels). They have many attractions, swimming pools, slides, playgrounds, etc.
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